Joyland by Stephen King

Stephen King, the world's best selling author, is back with his first novel with Hard Case Crime, called Joyland. At King's request the novel is only available in paperback and not in e:format to encourage people back in to physical bookshops.

It's summer in North Carolina, 1973 and Devin Jones is looking for a season of summer work to keep himself occupied while his girlfriend is away and to keep some money in his pocket. When he spots an add for Joyland he thinks it could be just what he needs and after an intriguing interview he takes the job. Sad to be parting with his girlfriend but excited to start his new job he throws himself headfirst into his new role. Even the creepy fortune teller and the stories of the ghost ride being haunted don't unnerve him.

A few weeks later when the love of his life breaks his heart and he discovers the rumours about the haunting are based around a real murder, his confidence is shaken. A girl had her throat cut during the ghost ride, was pushed off the ride in the dark while her killer left his gloves and bloody shirt behind, free to walk away after the ride finished with no one suspecting a thing. As he mourns his relationship and tries to find solace in his work, the death of the girl stays with him. Once his season is up and most of his colleagues return to home or colleges, Devin decides to stay on at Joyland full time but with a killer on the loose this turns out to be one of the most dangerous decisions he's ever made.


Joyland takes the brilliantly creepy location of a funfair and pushes all the right unnerving buttons. Yes, Devin is a bit of a sap but most people fall to pieces when they loose their first love so that's understandable. King goes into quite a lot of detail about 'carnie' culture and some of the lingo that's used to add to the feel of the book. He also manages to eek in a little bit of the paranormal but not enough to detract from the Hard Case Crime novel that it is. There is an awful lot of detail about Devin's day to day work life inside Joyland which does leave you egging the story to move on at one point but once the action picks up Joyland really pulls you in.

Overall Joyland is incredibly fun and enjoyable novel. Here's hoping that Stephen King releases more novels in this pulp styling that seems to suit his work so well.





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Scare Me by Richard Parker

After the loss of their baby, Will and Carla's lives are slowly getting back to normal with the help of the news that their first daughter Libby is pregnant. Libby and her boyfriend Luke have decided to travel to Thailand to cement their relationship and discuss their future, Will and Carla are left to discuss their growing family. Then one evening Will is woken by a phone call to his private mobile, the voice simple asks 'When did you last Google yourself, Mr Frost?' When the caller hangs up, Will tries to put the call to the back of his mind as a stupid prank but he eventually finds himself doing just as the unidentified called intended and Googling his own name. There he finds a website containing numerous images taken from inside his own home and not being the type of couple to allow press into their home, he is more than distressed. Then he sees a note telling him to check his e:mails, so he does. There he finds an image of his daughter, bound, beaten and gagged with her boyfriend. Someone has his daughter and that someone will drag him half way across the world and through the most horrendous challenges before she will be freed.

This is the first novel I have read from the new crime fiction imprint, Exhibit A and I am happy to say that I was more than impressed. Richard Parker dives into the action within the first couple of chapters and the tension really deson't falter. The story is viewed from a few different perspectives which keeps it fresh and past paced. There is an especially unusual scene where Will finds himself face to face with the person behind his torment and competely unable to do a thing about it, which makes a refreshing change from the all too commonly used final reveal. Full of tantaslising twists and turns, this novel keeps you guessing until the very last few pages and then teases you with the potential for more. An utterly fabulous crime novel that will keep you pinned to your seat.





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Finches of Mars by Brian Aldiss

As planet Earth is continually plagued by ever worsening wars, terrorism and overpopulation, a plan is constructed to progress mankind and push space travel further than it has ever gone before. Universities across the world unite to create the UU, a body which funds and populates the first human colony on Mars.

As soon as water is found, even after the unexplained death of the hydrologists, the project is confirmed and soon six different towers are constructed to house Earth’s different nations.  The UU decide who can and cannot take the one way journey to Mars and decide that to protect their new home, all religions will be banned. Although rations are tight, there is one main problem that continues to blight their mission and place the entire project at risk. Every single child born on Mars dies within moments of leaving its mother’s womb. Years pass and babies continue to die but eventually new life is found and then, new life finds them.

Rather than being written from any single perspective, The Finches of Mars takes an overview of the community and often dips in and out of the lives of individuals. With a number of important characters, the style works superbly and adds to the scientific study feel of the novel. The language is incredibly intelligent yet fluid and Aldiss introduces a number of interesting ideas that add a depth and realism that makes this story so fascinating. A must read for science fiction fans with the potential to be a modern classic.

Buy Finches of Mars by Brian Aldiss from Waterstones here.

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The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper

David Ullman's life is collapsing around him, his wife is openly having an affair and his daughter Tess is both growing older and further away. When a strange, skeletal woman comes to see him after giving his lecture in Christian mythology he is intrigued by her request for a consultation. Her employer wishes him to view something in Venice and report back but with such vague details he turns down her request. When he returns home, his wife is waiting for him and hits him with the news that she's moving out, suddenly making a working trip with his daughter seem like the perfect escape from real life.

The skeletal women had referred to David as 'Demonologist' so he was expecting something with religious conotations but he could never expect the pure evil he finds strapped to a chair in a small attic in Venice. As he films the possessed man he realises that this is unlike anything he's ever seen before. Terror kicks in as it dawns on him that the man is not alone in his body, a demon has hold of him and now that David has evidence to prove it's existence, it wants something from him too and it will threaten anything he loves to get it.

Religion can be a fabulously eerie basis for a novel and The Demonologist is no exception. The main character's specialism in Milton's Paradise Lost adds to the tone with quotes scattered throughout the storyline. There are a few scenes where the main characters logic fails and he repeatedly runs into the demon he's trying to avoid by checking on strange sounds and picking up a hitchhiker and the plot does jump around a little bit but the language used and style of writing is fluid and deep, bringing a literary feel to the novel. If you approach this story with a pinch of salt, it's an enjoyably creepy ride.

Buy The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper from Amazon here.

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Fearsome Dreamer by Laure Eve

Angle Tar is an independent country, holding back the technology that's so advanced in World. Within it's boundaries a girl called Rue trains to be a hedgewitch, half witch, half doctor. Although it's a hugely important role within the community and commands much respect, Rue can't help but feel she was meant for more. She yearns to know more about World and the secrets that are hidden beyond Angle Tar.

While at market one day she meets a strange looking man that invites himself to the home she shares with her teacher. When she overhears them discussing her future and the possibility of leaving her rural village for central Angle Tar, she can't help but be excited.  His name is Frith and he explains that he's offering her a chance to unleash her full potential. She can join him and study her ability with other Talented people and he will provide her with everything else she could need, as long as she tries her best. Not one hundred percent sure what he means by Talented people or event by 'her ability' Rue still grabs what she sees as her only opportunity to become more than a local hedgewitch.

The first thing that strikes you while starting Fearsome Dreamer by Laure Eve is the mature and elegant style of writing. It does not feel like a novel aimed at young adults at all and that only adds to it's brilliance. Written from three different perspectives the novel gives you a great insight into the way that future has changed the nations and counties into whole new regions. This makes the setting feel more realistic and the tale unfolds as the characters eventually come together. Although there is a romantic thread to this novel, it's one of numerous plot lines to keep you hooked and therefore makes this book accessible for girls and boys or men and women alike. With captivating characters, intriguing lands and secrets yet to be explored Fearsome Dreamer will literally leave you shouting out for the follow up novel.





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Stephen King’s Joyland Online Carnival Tour

Stephen King’s Joyland Online Carnival Tour

Step right up! Step right up! Talk “the Talk” @Titan Books to Win Money-Can’t-Buy Prizes

Best-selling author Stephen King returns with a breathtaking tale of love – and loss – set in a 1970s North Carolina amusement park.

Celebrating the release of this bittersweet coming-of-age novel, Titan Books and Hard Case Crime are teaming up with a series of digital partners to host competitions to win a free copies of Joyland and a limited run of EXCLUSIVE JOYLAND canvas prints of Glen Orbik’s cover painting.

Who dares enter the world of JOYLAND to win these unique prizes?

Playing the game is simple.

To be entered into todays draw to win AN EXCLUSIVE COVER ART CANVAS PRINT, just copy and paste the correct statement to a tweet @titanbooks

Stephen King's middle name is Edwin…I think. #JOYLAND @TitanBooks

Stephen King's middle name is Edward…I think. #JOYLAND @TitanBooks

Follow the carnival as it tours across websites… Each website will post a definition of carny “Talk” or Stephen King trivia everyday for three weeks. 

The more unique carny terms and Stephen King facts that you share with the world, the more likely that you are to win books or other prizes.  For full details of stops on the tour please visit titanbooks.com/joylandblogtour

Step right up! Step right up! Talk “the Talk” @Titan Books!

To buy Joyland by Stephen King from Amazon click here.

To buy Joyland by Stephen King from Waterstones click here.



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Perfect by Rachel Joyce

Rachel Joyce is back with her second novel Perfect. Due to her debut novel, The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, being one of the best sellers of the last year and a Booker Prize longlist nominee, her follow up novel is one of the most anticipated of 2013.

In 1972 two seconds were added to the year so that clock time was balanced once again with the movement of the Earth. The moment young Byron Hemmingway learnt of this strange piece of news from his knowledgeable best friend, James, he was instantly perturbed. When and where would these extra two seconds be added and how would they affect people's lives?

During the school run one busy morning, Byron's mother decides to take a shortcut through a rough area that her husband has banned her from venturing in to. But as her husband has also berated her numerous times on being late, her panic to get the children to school on time pushes her to make the flash decision. Down this fateful Digby Road, as Byron is insistent that he sees the extra two seconds added to his watch and his mother is distracted, he notices a young girl on her bike in front of the car. A veer and a squeal of brakes latter and nothing will be the same for Byron's family ever again.

After only the first few pages of this novel you are reassuringly wrapped up in Rachel Joyce's tender style of writing. The characters instantly feel as vulnerable as real people and therefore their troubles hit you hard. This is a truly heart breaking story and it is Byron's mother that that takes the brunt of it, with an emotionally, mentally (and hinted at physically) abusive husband she is worn down and taken advantage of so often in this novel it almost hurts to read.

Due to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry being such an incredible success it is inevitable that people will compare this novel to it. Although written with the same profound, tender style as Harold Fry, Perfect is a very different style of story. Perfect is far darker and with less climactic optimism but more realistic peripheral characters. One thing  that is for sure is that readers are sure to fall in love with Byron just as much as they did with Harold Fry. Perfect is touching, evocative and truly spellbinding, prepare to have your heart broken.







To buy Perfect by Rachel Joyce from Amazon click here.

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